Loons win again, climb into third place

Published 6:30 am, Wednesday, August 6, 2014

DAYTON, Ohio — Three Great Lakes Loons’ pitchers combined to shut down the Dayton Dragons and help the Loons pick up a big victory in the process Tuesday.

Starter Scott Barlow and relievers Ralston Cash and Jacob Rhame allowed only four hits among them, as the Loons won 2-1 for their third straight victory and fifth in the past six games. The win allowed Great Lakes (22-22 in the second half) to leapfrog Dayton (21-23) into third place in the Midwest League Eastern Division and closer to a potential playoff berth.

The Loons got all the scoring they would need in the top of the third inning. With one out, Jesmuel Valentin was hit by a pitch, and after Paul Hoenecke struck out for the second out, Joey Curletta reached on a fielding error by Dayton third-baseman Ronald Bueno. Valentin scored on the play, while Curletta reached second base.

Moments later, Josmar Cordero singled to drive in Curletta and make it 2-0.

The Dragons managed their lone run on Avain Rachal’s one-out homer off of Barlow in the bottom of the fifth. Afterward, Loons’ pitchers retired the next 11 batters and 14 of the final 15 they faced to end the game.

Barlow (5-5) got the win, going six innings and allowing only three hits and two walks, while striking out seven.

Cash pitched two perfect innings and fanned four for his fourth hold, while Rhame pitched a perfect ninth for his fifth save.

Dayton starter Jackson Stephens (2-4) took the loss, allowing two runs, neither earned, on four hits and a walk in five innings.

Great Lakes (56-58 overall) will go for the three-game sweep of the Dragons (57-55) tonight at 7 p.m., after which the Loons head to South Bend for a four-game series, starting Thursday.